Appointment Push Notification Automation
Updated 05-04-26 - V: 1.0.0
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This guide explains how to create an automation in the Visual Automator System that sends push notifications to patients for upcoming appointments — including how to set a time-based reminder using Cron Fields.
Overview
The Appointment Push Notification Automation uses the Visual Automator System to automatically notify patients when a schedule is created, or a set number of days before their appointment. You can build a simple weekly push notification or a time-based reminder — for example, sending a notification 3 days before the appointment date. Both are configured from the same automation canvas using triggers, filters, and Cron Fields.
What It Supports
• Filter-based targeting — only fire the automation for schedules matching specific criteria (e.g. title contains "weekly push")
• Time-based reminders using Cron Fields — send notifications X days, hours, or minutes before or after the appointment start or end date
• Copy and paste of filter nodes to quickly build parallel automation branches
• Automation naming, description, and tagging for organization
• Draft and Activate controls to test before going live
Before You Begin
• Push Notifications app connected and configured in FXMedSupport
• Familiarity with the Visual Automator System canvas
Step 1: Open the FXMedSupport Widget
1. On the right side of the Cerbo screen, click the FXMedSupport circular icon to open the widget.
Step 2: Open the Automator System
3. Click + Automation in the top right corner to create a new automation.
Step 3: Select the Trigger
2. In the left panel, click Cerbo to view Cerbo-based triggers.
3. In the right panel, click Schedule Created.
5. Click Add Trigger to add it to the automation canvas.
ℹ️ The Schedule Created trigger fires every time a new appointment or schedule entry is created in Cerbo. Use filters in the next step to narrow down which schedules should trigger the automation.
Step 4: Add a Filter to Target Specific Schedules
3. Click Event Filter & Condition.
• Field name: Title
• Field Value: enter the appointment title keyword (e.g. weekly push)
• Field Type: Field Equals
5. Click + Add Filter if you need to add additional filter conditions.
6. Click Add Trigger to apply the filter and add it to the canvas as a node.
💡 Tip: Use the Title filter to target only specific appointment types — for example, filtering by "weekly push" ensures this automation only fires for weekly push appointment schedules and not every schedule in Cerbo.
Step 5: Copy and Paste Filter Nodes (Optional)
2. In the context menu, hover over Copy.
3. Click Just This Node to copy only that filter, or SubTree to copy the filter and everything connected below it.
5. Right-click the trigger node where you want to paste, then click Paste.
6. The copied node will be added as a new branch on the canvas.
ℹ️ Hovering over any filter node on the canvas shows a tooltip with its full configuration: Field Name, Type, and Field Value — useful for verifying filters without opening the edit panel.
Step 6: Set Up a Time-Based Reminder Using Cron Fields
2. Click the Cron Fields tab at the top of the dialog.
3. In the first dropdown, select data_start (to base the timing on the appointment start date) or data_end (for the end date).
5. In the unit dropdown, select Days (or Hours, Minutes, or Months as needed).
6. In the final dropdown, select Before to send the notification before the appointment, or After to send it after.
8. Click Update Trigger to save the Cron Field settings.
💡 Tip: Use data_start with Before to remind patients before their appointment. For example: data_start → 3 → Days → Before will send the notification 3 days before the appointment starts. You can adjust the number freely — try 1 day, 2 days, or even hours before for same-day reminders.
ℹ️ Cron Fields options: data_start bases the timing on the appointment start date/time. data_end bases it on the appointment end date/time. The time unit can be Days, Hours, Minutes, or Months depending on how far in advance you want to notify patients.
Step 7: Name, Describe, and Activate the Automation
2. Click + DESCRIPTION at the top of the canvas to add a description explaining what the automation does.
3. Click + TAG to add an organizational tag if needed.
4. Click Save Changes to save the automation in Draft mode.
5. Once you are ready to go live, click Activate to turn the automation on.
6. The status indicator will change from Draft to Active, confirming the automation is now running.
⚠️ Warning: Do not activate the automation until all filters and Cron Fields are fully configured and saved. Activating an incomplete automation may send push notifications at unintended times or to unintended patients.
Summary
Selected Schedule Created as the trigger under the Cerbo category and clicked Add Trigger.
Added an Event Filter & Condition action with Field name: Title, Field Value: weekly push, Field Type: Field Equals.
Optionally copied and pasted filter nodes to build parallel automation branches.
Opened the Cron Fields tab on the filter node and set: data_start → 3 → Days → Before to send the notification 3 days before the appointment.
Clicked Update Trigger to save Cron Field settings.
Named the automation, added a description and tags, saved as Draft, then clicked Activate to go live.
Troubleshooting
Notification firing for all schedules instead of specific ones → Make sure the Title filter is set correctly with the exact appointment title keyword (e.g. weekly push) and Field Type is set to Field Equals.
Notification sending immediately instead of X days before → Check that Cron Fields are configured on the filter node. Open the Edit Event Filter & Condition dialog, click the Cron Fields tab, and confirm data_start, the number of days, and Before are all set. Click Update Trigger to save.
Copied node not appearing after paste → Right-click the correct parent node on the canvas and select Paste. The Copied toast must have appeared before pasting — if it did not, try the Copy → Just This Node step again.
Update Trigger button not saving changes → Ensure all three Cron Field dropdowns (field, unit, Before/After) are filled in before clicking Update Trigger. Incomplete rows may not save.
Need Help?
If you run into any issues setting up your appointment push notification automation, please reach out to our support team. We're happy to help!